187 acres donated along Heritage Trail for preserve

A New Jersey family has donated 187 acres of land to be turned into a nature preserve along the Heritage Trail.

The gift, donated by Jack and Louise Birnberg, Jeffrey Birnberg and Michael Birnberg is valued at $1.3 million. The families live in Bergen and Essex counties in New Jersey.

The Orange County Land Trust financed $70,000 in transaction costs, according to a news release issued Monday. About 3,000 feet of the Youngs Brook flows through the property located in Chester and Blooming Grove.

The “Jack and Louise Birnberg Nature Preserve” will be accessible to the public beginning this summer, according to a news release.